Problems on the use of space by the elderly and their relations with the smart home technologies

Old age is a natural phenomenon that is experienced by everyone who continues to live. The period of old age, which can be evaluated from many different perspectives, also hosts many changes that can influence in different manners the lifestyles of people. The fact that nowadays human beings spend most of their time indoors becomes even more pronounced in old age. Consequently, the changes to which the elderly are subjected also affect their use of space. Elderly people experience problems of adaptation to interiors, which are their areas of life. Finally, they are confronted with leaving their familiar surroundings in order to meet their care needs. However, the problems of adaptation are known in the historical process of human beings, who were subjected to the harsh and wild conditions of nature. They responded by using their cognitive capacities and by inventing tools that were the technology of the period. Throughout the course of history, people have resorted to technology to be able to realize what they could not achieve naturally. Accordingly, it is natural and logical for the elderly to include technologies in their lives for overcoming the problems they experience. The objective of this study is to determine the problems, which prevent the elderly from being able to continue their lives in an independent, autonomous and active manner; to study these problems carefully within the framework of the use of space; and to transfer a detailed accumulation of knowledge on the subjects of making the areas of life – through technology – into a higher quality and equipped condition. The concept of old age was studied carefully for acquiring this experience. The changes, losses and the reflection of these to the use of space to which the elderly people were subjected were examined in detail. Subsequently, the places and functions of technology in the history of humanity and in daily life were mentioned. In conclusion, examples and suggestions were made about how solutions could be reached with the use of current technological knowledge, such as smart homes, for the problems related to old age and the role of the profession of interior design was evaluated in this context. Keywords: Old age, Problems of the elderly, Technology, Smart home, Interior design.